1963
Peaceful Matters in 1963
With the war continuing in New England, and even expanding to a much larger degree then it was, many New Englanders flocked towards Canada and it's 'open arms' refugee policy. The Canadian government remained fully involved in the massive exodus, insuring that the New England populace was promptly put to work, making sure that every single refugee at a ready and paying job. This massive amount of manpower of course helped out Canadian industry quite a bit, not to mention the economic benefits of a larger, 'hungry for goods' populace has. Along with that, new dams, roads and a bunch of otherwise generic economic improvements occured. (+1 Canadian EP, +60 Canadian IP, ++4 Canadian IP)
Ecuadorian forces fortified the DMZ on it's border with Peru.
Drilling in the Western Amazon continues to bode well for the Ecuadorians. Money has been made, though it's the general feeling that one final push in terms of government spending is needed for any major returns. (++1 Ecuadorian IP)
The German transportation ministry has constructed a series of Highway networks throughout Germany known as the Autobahn, making the flow of resources and other equiptment through the nation a lot quicker and sensible then it was before. (++2 German IP)
German Chancellor Heinrich Kauffman publically denounced the USMA this turn, then cut off all diplomatic relations with the 'evil' power. Coinciding with other events (see Military Matters), this seems like a move most other European leaders will be following soon.
The German people began gearing up got next year's General Elections. The Konservative Partiet candidate, and current Prime Minister, Heinrich Kauffman, has already begun making tours around the nation, giving speeches and attending media events. The result is a vast majority of the German public supporting Heinrich in one form or another. (+German Happiness)
With the success of the Sitka-San Diego line in North America, the nations of the Sitka-Quito Cooperative instead decided to just forgo any more smaller railroad improvements, and connect Sitka to Brazil via train. The result was the begining of the Sitka-Quito-Rio de Janeiro Line. Lines through Gran Colombia and Mexico have been finished, with Ecuador and Brazil trailing behind. (+1 Gran Colombian EP, +1 Mexican EP)
Keeping with California's economic integration last year, the market of the Sitka-Quito Cooperative began adopting a new, single currency this year, called the America's Peso. These steps towards integration have brought quite a bit of industrial growth in all involved nations, though in some more then others. (++1 Alaska IP, ++2 Oregonese IP, ++2 Californian IP, ++1 Mexican IP, ++2 Colombian IP, ++2 Ecuadorian IP, ++2 Brazillian IP)
The previously government owned Colombian Television Broadcasting towers, and companies began being privatized this year. The main content of new Colombian Television? 'Steamy' Soap-Operas, and Soccer matches. The building of new broadcast towers, along with creating several thousand new jobs for Colombians previously out of work has given Colombia a small spurt of industrial growth, though nothing major. This private dominance of the airwaves has brought some Gran Colombian culture into the recently annexed lands of Central America. (+Colombian Happiness)
Iberians have been busy this year, working on 'Proyecto Helios', a project dedicated to finding ways to transform solar energy into electricity. These 'Sun Farms' have appeared in Morocco and the Canary Islands, and a lot progess has been made, at least according to the Iberian foreign ministry. (++4 IP)
Iberian business executives have begun attempting to get a better grasp of their own economy, trying to beat out foreign businesses with their own. In some cases, this has worked. And in others, it has backfired. While Iberia has managed to get a better grip on it's agricultural sector, in areas such as business, it has found that more often then not it's competitors looked at the increased competition as more of a challenge then anything. But a growth in the Iberian railroad industry, and general expansion of the population into more suburban regions has led to a resurgence of Iberian entrepreneurship. (+1 Iberian EP, ++3 Iberian IP)
Even Equatorial Guinea began receiving some love from the Iberians. (+Iberian Happiness)
Iberian business men also made the long trip to the strange nation of Ukraine. Meeting (and, consequently, getting quite intoxicated) with several representatives from the Ukrainian Economic ministry, several business deals were made, including one massive sale of tractors to the Eastern European nation. (++1 Ukrainian IP, ++1 Iberian IP)
A regional election took place in India's new Szechwan territory, for a regional legislator. A young man by the name of Liu Jefeng soon found himself with the title, after a thorough backround check. (+Indian Happiness, ++3 Indian IP)
Plebiscites were held in the Xinjiang province of China this year, and were oversaw by several inspectors from both Greece and Chile. These votes, in regards to local regions either staying with China or joing the new state of Uyghuyrstan have proven to be roughly equal, with all of the regions in question remaining with China, and the other half joining the latter. (++1 Uyghuyrstan IP)
With the escalation of tensions between the Soviet powers, and the Coalition of Asian States, the desert region on the outskirts of the lands the Soviets occupy in Xingjiang began experiencing fortifications on behalf of the Japanese and Indian militaries. Mines, among other things, have become prominant marks of the otherwise barren landscape, discouraging any would-be Soviet offensive.
The Chinese territories recently annexed by Japan already began being integrated into the Empire of the Rising Sun. Of the begining steps of this integration, was the introduction of Imperial taxes into the lands, set at the same level for the Chinese as they are anywhere else in the Empire. While many thought this would in fact bring resentment and anger towards the Japanese from their new Chinese citizens, the move was accepted, for the most part. The Imperial Taxes were, after all less then the ones they suffered through under their old rule, and all the 'rabble-rousers' in the region had already high-tailed it out to Mongolia. (+1 Japanese EP, ++6 Japanese IP)
Dutch companies began releasing information found about the Congo's wealth of resources to private companies that the nation's government trusts, and hopes to work with in the near future. Of the companies given the information, several gave it a look, though question the risk setting up camp in the Congo might bring. While the PCAA has done a good job in maintaining the delicate tension between Dutchman and African, there is always the possibility that poking the bear too much may wake it up. Regardless, several companies began hashing out factories in the deep interior. (++1 Dutch IP)
The Dutch industry grows.. (++2 Dutch IP)
The Nigerian Revolution is still in full swing, with many of the jobs previously taken by whites now being filled up with happy African youth. Of course, this is not to say all is going well for the revolution.. (see Military Matters)
Economic integration between Ukraine, Austria and Poland began this year. Among the first things created was a Polish-Ukrainian Railroad, crossing national lines, and heading into each others industrial heartlands. Polish president Czeslaw Kowalski has been one of the most adament supporters of this move, citing the regions otherwise lack of direct trade. Members of the Ukrainian Mininstry of Transportation met with some Polish representatives, shared a hearty laugh, and drink, and quickly got to business. Things are getting done, and the railroad seems to be going well thus far.
A Russian 'Light Industry Program' started up this year. While Russia's industry in previous years have focused primarily on the manufacteur of more industrial related things, and of course, the military, a this new program has been initiated in the hopes of making consumer goods, such as the television, more readily available to the common Russian. (+Russian Happiness)
The People's Republic of the Caribbean's independece has finally been secured this year.. though some trouble arouse when the Russian fleet entered the region.. (see Military Matters)
The Turkish government has begun encouraging private enterprise, rather then state sponsered. The government has begun giving out loans to people more regularly then before. Land has been leased, for the purpose of private companies mining it, or growing crops on it. The business community has become a fan of it, and the Turkish government has made sure they're recieving their fair share of the profits as well.
The Grand Alliance of Islamic Nation's railroad project has finally been completed this year, with the first train making the 'maiden voyage' from Instanbul to Khartoum.
Tensions on the Ukrainian-Romanian border continued to mount this year, with both nations sending active patrols fully armed right up to the borderline, to really make sure a mistake like last year does not occur.
'The Lansing Project' began.. but was interrupted. (see Military Matters)
The United States of the Mid-Atlantic decided to change it's name to simply the United States of the Atlantic, after the proposed annexation of New England completely into it's domain. New England, now led by what is essentially a Military Junta refused to sign the treaty, instead opting to fight to the last man. (see Military Matters) The name change still applies, however, something President Lawrence of the United States is quite steadfast about.
Despite all the events the United States of the Altlantic has found itself in, they have managed to pull together to have an election for president. The candidates are varied as they are talented in their specific places of expertise. No winner has been announced yet, though some complications arose when Socialist Candidate Vladimir Trotsky was shot, and promptly withdrew from the election.
Elections in the Confederacy were in full-swing for most of the year, with opponents Senator Jordan, and Vice President O'Neil in a close race up until the actual voting began. Some polls even put Senator Jordan as the election's winner, though ultimately tensions with the USMA led the public to choice the otherwise more military minded O'Neil to be their leader for the next 5 years.
After whole-heartedly joining SADETO earlier, Argentina completely jumped ship, into the arms of the already massive Sitka-Quito Cooperative, causing some strains in the government, and the general population. (-Argentinian Happiness)
Despite this, a public works progress began this year in Argentina, a highway connecting the northern parts of the nation to the southern regions. The N-S (North-South) Highway has already allowed for a flow of goods into the into and out of the regions, however it isn't quite finished yet. (++2 Argentinian IP)
A few hundred Greeks showed up to join the Ukrainian Foreign Legion this turn, which quickly turned into more of a farce then anything, as the Ukrainian commander, convinced they were Romanian, had them prove their 'Greekiness' by preforming in an ad hoc version of the Olympic games. The offended Greeks however, soon found themselves heartedly welcomed by their new brothers, despite the awkard situation that occured during the rock toss.
In a move that shocked a lot of the world, the British Empire officially gave the Gold Coast it's independence this year, citing for better relations between the nations in the future. The reaction from the people of the Gold Coast (now calling themselves Ghana) has been overwhelming, to put it best. Parades have been held throughout the new nation, while a general feeling of 'thanks' has been felt, in regards to their old British rulers. The youth of Britain have also been thankful too, with the worries of being bogged down in a long colonial war subsiding as well. (+Ghana, +British Happiness)
In an attempt to help facilitate some better relations with it's smaller neighbor, the Yucatan Republic, the Mexican Empire has proposed a student exchange program to begin next year. Things are already looking up for the two nations.